The economy grew at a 2.9 percent annual rate in the spring — better than first estimated but nowhere near the brisk pace logged in the winter, another sign of slowing business growth. Inflation marched higher. The latest snapshot of economic activity, released by the Commerce Department Wednesday, showed that gross domestic product in the April-to-June quarter increased slightly more than the 2.5 percent pace first reported a month ago. That upgrade mostly reflected an improvement in the country's trade picture and stronger inventory building by businesses. The upward revision, though, didn't change the big picture of the economy: In the spring, it slowed sharply from the first quarter's 5.6 percent pace, the strongest growth spurt in 2½ years, as consumers and businesses tightened the belt. ... http://www.cbsnews.com

The United States has issued a visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, despite Washington's row with Tehran over its nuclear programme. Mr Khatami will be one of the most senior Iranian figures to visit the US since diplomatic ties were cut in 1979, apart from officials on UN business. Mr Khatami's visit is being described as private. The US state department said there were no plans for him to meet government officials. Mr Khatami is to give a speech at Washington's National Cathedral on 7 September on the role that Islam, Judaism and Christianity can play in shaping peace. He will also attend a conference at the UN in New York on promoting dialogue. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5298132.stm

The European Commission says it will do more to help EU member states handle large flows of migrants. Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini was replying to a new appeal for help from Spain, which is struggling with an influx by sea from West Africa. The EU launched an operation this month to turn back small boats carrying migrants from Cape Verde, Mauritania and Senegal to the Canary Islands. But Spain says the operation is not big enough and took too long to get going. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said Spain needed "more boats, more planes, more personnel". Mr Frattini said he would ask member states to show more solidarity with Spain, to increase the amount of money available for border control, and to strengthen the "operational capacity" of the new EU border agency, Frontex...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5298668.stm

The international "war on terror" has led to new patterns of disappearances in South Asia, human rights group Amnesty International says. Hundreds of suspects had been removed without explanation in Pakistan, the group said in a report on Wednesday. Fears were also voiced over Sri Lanka and Nepal, echoed by the UN, where civil wars have taken their toll. The Amnesty report and the UN appeal were timed to coincide with the International Day of the Disappeared. "South Asia has a history of enforced disappearances, with tens of thousands going missing over the past decade in countries such as Sri Lanka and Nepal," says Catherine Baber of Amnesty International. "It is very disappointing to see countries such as Pakistan join in a trend that one hoped would be declining." In Pakistan, the human rights group says many of those who disappeared have eventually been acknowledged as being held in Guantanamo Bay. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5298830.stm

Israeli forces launched airstrikes on the outskirts of Gaza City and exchanged gunfire with Palestinian militants Wednesday, killing six people, officials said.Israeli forces have been searching for smuggling tunnels and explosives in Gaza City's Shijaiyeh neighborhood since the weekend and have killed a total of 16 Palestinians, most of them militants, doctors said.Among those killed Wednesday was a 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed as he gathered with a group of people to watch the fighting, hospital officials said. At least one of those killed was a gunman, doctors said.Troops also flattened crops, destroyed greenhouses and chicken coops and uprooted dozens of trees on Wednesday, residents said. The army had no comment on the report about the destruction. In recent years, troops have routinely destroyed farming areas and orchards in the Gaza Strip, citing the need to deprive gunmen and rocket squads of cover....http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-30-gaza_x.htm?csp=34

Hackers have obtained the credit card details of almost 19,000 online shoppers from telecoms giant AT&T. The US company said it had notified shoppers at its online store of the security breach, which affected people buying high-speed DSL internet items. Security was breached at the weekend, the company said, and online stores were quickly shut down in response. AT&T said it would reimburse customers for any fraudulent transactions and pay for any necessary credit services. There were no indications that fraudulent transactions had been carried out before the stolen information came to light, AT&T said. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5297710.stm